Punjab: Man ties addict son with chain to stop him from taking drugs

The man said he also took his son to the de-addiction centre in Tarn Taran, however when he returned, he started his old habits again “because drugs are being openly sold in the area”.

punjabUpdated: Oct 02, 2017 09:17 IST

Anil Sharma Hindustan Times, Tarn Taran

24-year-old Sukhwinder Singh, who is a drug addict has been chained by his father.(HT Photo)

A father in Bhikhiwind village of Tarn Taran district has chained his 24-year-old son, who is a drug addict. Jagtar Singh says he was forced to do this because police have failed to act on his complaints against drug peddlers.

“My son, Sukhwinder Singh, has spent around Rs 3 lakh on heroin and smack. I informed police about the peddlers from whom my son used to purchase heroin. However, instead of acting against them, the cops are threatening to book my son instead, if I complain against the smugglers again,” Jagtar said.

He claimed that he had also approached station house officer, Balwinder Singh, to arrest the drug peddlers but the officer did not act on his complaints. Furthermore, Jagtar said the police also refused to register his complaints.

Sukhwinder has completed Class 12. The family has an agrarian background and owns a truck. He purchases drugs by selling household goods. “My son sold an android mobile phone and jewellery to buy drugs (Sukhwinder also confirmed this). When I informed police about this, they brought back the mobile phone but have failed to arrest the drug peddlers,” Jagtar said.

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Bhikhiwind, Sukhwinder Singh Mann said, “After receiving information about the person to whom Sukhwinder sold his mobile phone, the SHO conducted a raid and recovered it. The accused, Gurpreet Singh Goppy, managed to flee the spot. But the police arrested him on September 29 with one gram of heroin.”

The DSP however rubbished Jagtar’s allegation that police have refused to register his other complaints against drug peddlers and that he was threatened by the cops. “It is not possible that the SHO will not register such complaints,” he said.

Jagtar said he also took his son to the de-addiction centre in Tarn Taran, however when he returned, he started his old habits again “because drugs are being openly being sold in the area”.

Speaking about his habits, Sukhiwnder said, “I want to quit taking drugs but because of their easy availability, I am unable to do so.” He claimed that many drug peddlers are active in villages like Bhikhiwind, Puhla, Marimegha.

He said he knows drug peddlers who are active in the region and can help the police in arresting them. “But the cops are hand in glove with them,” he alleged.